At the half: Is this the end of the line for David Akers’ 49ers career?

The 49ers aren’t playing great right now–they’re ahead only 7-6 over terrible Arizona, in a game that means something to the 49ers and nothing to Arizona.

But the 49ers still should win. Just by playing 50% efficiency, they should win by at least a TD or more. And that still won’t be the best way to head into the playoffs… whether it’s as the No. 2 seed with a bye or the No. 3 vs. Chicago.

However, the larger specific issue right now is the 49ers’ kicking game and David Akers, who has flat out lost it.

He’s the one guy with whom Jim Harbaugh has shown amazing patience, through miss after clutch miss, and even after last week’s short FG try that was lined low, blocked, and return for a critical Seattle touchdown.

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I thought Harbaugh should’ve cut bait with Akers then and there, but Harbaugh stuck with him.

And today Akers–looking like he’s noticeably trying to lift the ball to avoid a block–has lined up for two FG tries (from 44 and 40 yards) and missed them both wide left.

He has now missed 4 of his last 8 tries and 7 of his last 16. That’s not good. That’s the kind of performance that will burn a team in the postseason, no doubt.

I think Harbaugh has stayed with him because Harbaugh believed the problem started with a pelvis injury and that Akers was healing up… and also didn’t trust another kicker at this late point.

But the 49ers are past that now. Akers has lost confidence or is more hurt than he thought or just isn’t good any more.